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OLB is the only one starting spot that really, really needs an upgrade for 2009. The rest of the draft needs are for backups and future starters.

PROPOSAL
Sign Taylor

SOURCE OF FUNDS
1) Extend Faulk (a good idea in any case)/
2) Restructure Brady.
3) Extend Light (a restructure instead could be enough; if he won't extend, move up the draft priority on an OT).

ADDITIONAL OPTION
4) Extend Green, especially if the bonus just paid (?) can be part of the new contract.
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BTW, free agency isn't done. Expect some jags for camp competition and perhaps a FB, SS, and/or a QB.

Thanks again for posting another forum about what we need to do before draft day.

Again. I agree with signing Taylor, but not right now. Wait until we see what we get in the draft.

As for your "Source of funds" section. I think our number 1 extension should be extending Vince Wilfolks contract. Then Light. Then maybe Seymour. Kevin Faulk will be with the pats for a while. He will be a nice light cheap extension.

We're not gonna find a starting OLB in the upcoming draft for this year, maybe next year. I'm really curious what Crable will show coming off the shadow roster/injured list.

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I would let that last shred of hope for peppers go. There is no way we are gunna pay the money that he wants.

As for finding a starting OLB in the draft. There are plenty of guys that would fit the bill, at least for 1st and 2nd down. I think that Clay Mathews or Brian Cushing could be a starting OLB if they work hard and BB trusts them enough to put them in the starting position.

I would let that last shred of hope for peppers go. There is no way we are gunna pay the money that he wants.

As for finding a starting OLB in the draft. There are plenty of guys that would fit the bill, at least for 1st and 2nd down. I think that Clay Mathews or Brian Cushing could be a starting OLB if they work hard and BB trusts them enough to put them in the starting position.

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Sadly, I think you're dead right about Peppers. Hence the "shred" of hope.

I've been on the Matthews bandwagon for a while now. Any 2 from the Matthews/Cushing/English/Simtin/Barwin group would thrill me.

OLB is the only one starting spot that really, really needs an upgrade for 2009. The rest of the draft needs are for backups and future starters.

PROPOSAL
Sign Taylor

SOURCE OF FUNDS
1) Extend Faulk (a good idea in any case)/
2) Restructure Brady.
3) Extend Light (a restructure instead could be enough; if he won't extend, move up the draft priority on an OT).

ADDITIONAL OPTION
4) Extend Green, especially if the bonus just paid (?) can be part of the new contract.
=============
BTW, free agency isn't done. Expect some jags for camp competition and perhaps a FB, SS, and/or a QB.

Click to expand...

Agree with most of this. Not sure of two things:

- the advisability of signing Taylor.
- how much you can save by restructuring. How long can you spread out the guaranteed money. Is it just this year and next?

OLB is the only one starting spot that really, really needs an upgrade for 2009. The rest of the draft needs are for backups and future starters.

PROPOSAL
Sign Taylor

SOURCE OF FUNDS
1) Extend Faulk (a good idea in any case)/
2) Restructure Brady.
3) Extend Light (a restructure instead could be enough; if he won't extend, move up the draft priority on an OT).

ADDITIONAL OPTION
4) Extend Green, especially if the bonus just paid (?) can be part of the new contract.
=============
BTW, free agency isn't done. Expect some jags for camp competition and perhaps a FB, SS, and/or a QB.

Click to expand...

Good thoughts.

I have not particularly been on the Taylor bandwagon, but I agree with you about OLB being the last remaining hole in the 2009 starting lineup, and Taylor is the most likely way to solve that problem. I prefer Peppers, but at this point I agree that we don't have the room for him, and if we can get the right OLB prospect in the draft then having Taylor as a 1-2 year placeholder would be nice.

My guess is that Belichick is not going to do anything right away, but will see how the draft falls. It's possible that we could sign Taylor for then, but generally the longer we wait the more likely that it will be economical.

What about restructuring Stephen Neal? That might also be a useful move to free up a bit of cap space.

Thanks again for posting another forum about what we need to do before draft day.

Again. I agree with signing Taylor, but not right now. Wait until we see what we get in the draft.

As for your "Source of funds" section. I think our number 1 extension should be extending Vince Wilfolks contract. Then Light. Then maybe Seymour. Kevin Faulk will be with the pats for a while. He will be a nice light cheap extension.

Thanks again for posting another forum about what we need to do before draft day.

Again. I agree with signing Taylor, but not right now. Wait until we see what we get in the draft.

As for your "Source of funds" section. I think our number 1 extension should be extending Vince Wilfolks contract. Then Light. Then maybe Seymour. Kevin Faulk will be with the pats for a while. He will be a nice light cheap extension.

What do you mean by Restructure Brady?

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I think his point was what we can do to free up some money. While we all want to extend Vince--that would require spending, not freeing up money. One of the problems is that there's not enough money to go around, if there was we surely would've extended Wilfork by now. As far as Big Sey, that's quite questionable as to whether or not it'll ever happen. My guess is we'll wait until next yr, to see what is certain with the CBA. And we all know we need Faulk, but again--the purpose of this thread was to talk about ways to free up money

Not sure about that. He already took below market comp in his last contract and was "rewarded" by the Pats by letting his two top receivers go the next season, an error that was not corrected for another year with the addition of Moss and Welker. Then, he suffered a career threatening injury last year. So, restructuring his contract is probably the last place I'd look.

Not sure about that. He already took below market comp in his last contract and was "rewarded" by the Pats by letting his two top receivers go the next season, an error that was not corrected for another year with the addition of Moss and Welker. Then, he suffered a career threatening injury last year. So, restructuring his contract is probably the last place I'd look.

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The Pats could shift >$2 million of Brady's cap hit into the 2010 season at no cost to Brady. Similarly, they could shift >$1.5 million of Matt Light's hit. They would further retain small amounts of leeway to do the same w/ a couple of other contracts if there were a cap-room emergency mid-season.

I've said this before, but I don't really see the point in jettisoning a 34-year-old Vrabel to bring in a 34-year-old Taylor. Especially with the issues we've had on defense the past couple of years with a lack of speed across the middle of the field.

Makes sense and THAT IS the really big final piece...OLB is the hole that needs fixing..and if they KNOW he will sign...no need to sign now..if JT wishes to have the summer away...and that also means no rush to extend restructure..IF there is a handshake deal..